Processing of unglazed ceramic tiles from blast furnace slag

In this study, the unglazed ceramic tiles from blast furnace slag and clay have been investigated. Clay in the range of 0-100 wt.% have been added into the blast furnace slag. Cylindrical specimens, shaped by pressing the blast furnace slag containing clay, were sintered at 1150, 1175 and 1200 degrees C for 1 h. The firing shrinkage, bulk density, apparent porosity and water absorption of sintered specimens are explained on the basis of X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The gehlenite, anorthite, quartz, akermanite, wollastonite and enstatite phases were found by XRD of sintered samples and SEM studies revealed crystals embedded in the glassy matrix. The results showed that ceramic tiles such as wall tile could be made from blast furnace slag and clay mixture. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.